Archaeology in and 1979 by Alan McWhirr

Excavation of a Multi-ring Ditch Site at Eaton: An Interim Report Following aerial survey and ground observation this site was examined by Leicestershire Museums Archreological Field Unit between September and November 1979 with the kind permission and co-operation of the landowner Mr. Peter Lamin. Situated near to Piper Hole Farm in the parish of Eaton between Scalford and Eastwell (SK762266) the site was at a height of 151 m (495 ft), 400 m west of the Harby escarpment, on Middle lias ironstone. It was located as a cropmark, showing four concentric ring ditches, by Mr. J. Pickering and a mound, 1 m high, was visible on the ground, ( confirmed by a micro-contour survey). The site, which was under threat from ploughing, was selected because the multiplicity of the ditches suggested several phases and the apparent presence of a standing mound in acid conditions made possible the existence of a pollen horizon in the buried soil. Little work has been done on sites of this period on the higher ground in the . A resistivity survey was carried out and as a result approximately 1,300 square metres were examined revealing a multi-phase barrow of Early Bronze Age date which had been ploughed flat in antiquity and was situated on a natural rise. The barrow consisted of five phases. Initially a funerary area was delineated by a ditch 2 m wide and 0·8 m deep and 11·5 m in diameter with an interruption/entrance at the south west, 1 m wide. 70% of this was excavated. This surrounded a central area 8 m in diameter containing three burials in pits. The first of these consisted of a cremation in a small wooden coffin, l ·O m x 0·4 m x 0· 12 m, the shape of which had been preserved by manganese replacing the wood. Above this and cutting it was a tree trunk coffin2·4 m x 1·4 m x 0·6 m, theshapeagainpreservedinmanganese. This could have contained an extended inhumation burial, all the bones except for the enamel of two teeth having disappeared due to the acidity of the soil. To the west and cutting this burial was a shallow pit 1-4 m in diameter x 0· 25 m deep containing, on its western side, a small cremation burial without any covering, demarked to the north and south by two stones. The only artefact with these burials was a crude flint knife alongside the final cremation. After a short period of time the ditch surrounding the central area was backfilled and probably for the first time a mound built over the burials. This was revetted and demarked by a series of stake circles. Material for this mound was obtained from a second ring ditch l · l m deep x 3 m wide and 23 m in diameter.

Trans. Vol. LIV 68

Further additions to the mound occurred when the second ditch was recut to a depth of 0·65 m, but the resulting extension was apparently inadequate and the recur was backfilled and replaced by another ring ditch 1 m deep, 2·5 m wide and 28 m in diameter. Finally the mound was extended again with material from another ring ditch, l·O m deep, 4 m wide and 40·5 m in diameter. The site had been extensively ploughed and large quantities of pottery were found in the south-west part of the excavation suggesting the close proximity of a Romano-British site, possibly, in view of its geographical suitability, a villa. A Romano-British cremation which has been disturbed by ploughing was found above the outer ditch and it is probably not without significance that this was placed near to a then standing barrow. This site, therefore, although more disturbed than was envisaged, has provided an interesting sequence of central burials including cremation and inhumation. Although no undisturbed mound survived, the barrow structure can be deduced from the stake circles and ring ditches. These show it to have been an important monument extended at least four times and probably in use over a considerable period of time. Patrick Clay and Deborah Sawday

The Roman Villa at Norfolk Street, SK 575043 The villa was situated about half a mile beyond the western boundary of Ratae Coritanorum, near the summit of an eastward-facing slope overlooking the River Soar and the Roman town. At the top of the slope the Danehills sandstone outcrops the keuper marl and sand. Not surprisingly, this sandstone was used extensively, though by no means exclusively, in the construction of the villa buildings. The villa was first discovered in the late eighteenth century when tessellated pavements were noted during grubbing-out operations in the Cherry Orchard which then occupied the site. In 1851, the first excavation was undertaken by the Leicestershire Literary and Philosophical Society. The resulting plan shows mainly tessellated pavements and few walls appear to have been recognised, presumably because of intensive stone robbing. However, the lay-out of the pavements clearly ind.icates that there were at least two ranges of buildings, see plan (Fig. 9). The plan of the west wing consists of a range of rooms, the central one of which is apsidal, opening off a corridor to the east, while the north wing is indicated by a second corridor pavement at right angles to the first. The apsidal pavement was lifted and removed to the Museum in 1851 and later in the 19th century the site was sealed by the construction of terrace housing. In 1975, following the demolition of the terrace on the east side of Norfolk Street, excavation by the Leicestershire Archreological Field Unit located an aisled barn or workshop to the south of a central open area or courtyard, see plan. (See also T.L.A.H.S., L [ 197~5], 58). Evidence for earlier occupation on the site, pre-dating the main villa buildings, was recovered in the form of a series of channels or gullies running down the hill at roughly equi-distant intervals. Pottery from these features and underlying the courtyard surface, dated from c. mid-second century A.O. ARCHAEOLOGY IN LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND 69

LEICESTER: NORFOLK ST. ROMAN VILLA

.. : .I.a.:.:.:...;., :..:., I I I I I I I I ~ a e o ~ 48 ea .,. ....' KEY 'r hyv .,. Earlier ~ I ~-~- ·--; wall ' ~ I h--;;v Mortar 1.11c:,aa111a 1 floor fYh I Hearth h I Tshaped t 0 5 15 ,__ , I flue Mndcrn m M Fig. 9. ---

In February 1979, following the demolition of the houses fronting onto King Richards Road, excavation began on the site of the north wing of the villa. There was rather more evidence from this area of the earlier phase(s) of occupation pre-dating the construction of the main villa buildings. Another in the series of channels running downhill seemed to have been re-used by the villa builders as a drain. In addition, a number of small hearths or flues was found, of varying shapes and sizes and, as yet, of undetermined function. In particular, near the south-west corner of the site was a sequence of activity represented by a large T-shaped structure, perhaps a corn dryer, superseded by two smaller round hearths which were in turn cut by one of the walls of the main building. Towards the eastern edge of the site was a number of small bowl-shaped hearths with long flues, while, in the north-east corner, wall foundations underlying the later villa gave the first indication of an actual building associated with the pre-villa occupation. 70

The north wing of the villa itself provided a further range of domestic accommodation in addition to that on the west and with a fairly high standard of comfort. As well as the main north range there was a further building attached to its north-east corner, perhaps a bath block. All the excavated rooms of this building had had tessellated floors with simple geometric designs and two of them were also provided with hypocausts, see plan (Fig. 9). In the larger of the two heated rooms the openings of flues survived in the walls, just below floor level. There was no evidence of burning or sooting in the hypocaust channels and the stoke-holes produced very little in the way of ash and charcoal. In contrast to this suite with its tessellated pavements, the two eastmost rooms of the main north range had thin mortar floors which survived only in patches while in the small room to the west no trace of any flooring was found. Towards the west end of the range, however, there was once again evidence of a very comfortable standard of domestic accommodation. Below the most westerly room excavated was a large cellar, at least 6·50 m x 5·00 m with a wooden floor, represented by joist impressions, and plastered walls painted with simple geometric designs. Two layers of wall-plaster survived in situ on the east and west walls although the walls themselves had been robbed. In the earlier phase of decoration the designs on the east and west walls were different. The ground floor room above the cellar was represented by its west wall which had fallen, almost intact, into the cellar. This wall was constructed of unbaked clay bricks bonded with clay and had carried decorated wall-plaster on both sides so that the interior decoration of two rooms was represented. The plaster from the west face of the collapsed wall, which lay face upwards in the cellar consisted of a horizontal frieze of green leaves with occasional bunches of orange-coloured fruit on a white background. Above and below the frieze were panels outlined respectively in yellow, red and green. The whole effect must have been much lighter and more delicate than, for example, in the room above the cellar itself, as represented by the wall plaster from the underside of the collapsed wall. The wall painting recovered from here, although very fragmented, is virtually complete over an area c. 5·00 m x 3·00 m and shows the whole scheme from floor to ceiling. Basically the design consists of alternating panels in red and green separated by illusionistic columns entwined with vine scrolls and with Corinthian-type capitals. Below the inain panels is a further series with a marbled effect above a splashed red dado. Some aspects of the decoration are paralleled by wall plaster recently recovered from York Minster and there dated to the early fourth century (information from Dr. Roger Ling). Dating evidence for the construction of the villa was not prolific and in any case requires further study but the style of the wall-plaster and the tessellated pavements coupled with two coins from the stoke-holes of the hypocausts suggest a period of occupation in the late third and fourth centuries. J. E. Mellor and J. Lucas ARCHAEOLOGY IN LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND 71

Medieval Building at 35 Old Forge Road, Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire Fenny Drayton is situated at the west end of the Roman road running from Leicester to Mancetter (T.L.A.H.S., XLII (196Cr7), and is approximately one mile from the Watling Street. An earlier name for the village was Drayton in the Clay reflecting the geology, a reddish Keuper Marl found throughout the settlement. The first investigations were made in late 1978 when a driveway for a car access was started and the roadside hedge and verge were levelled. Several late twelfth century sherds were brought to the writer's notice and subsequently a shallow ditch was revealed, probably representing an old roadside drainage channel, into which the sherds were dumped. The finds from this deposit consisted of cooking pot types, the two most substantial pieces of which are illustrated (Fig. 10); others included coarse sandy, gritty fabrics and some rim sherds which had incised wavy combed marks. An interesting jug sherd in cream fabric had applied pad and grid stamp. A second investigation became necessary when the garage approach nearer the house was levelled and the owner, aware of changes in the soil, realised further archreological layers were present. A period of two week-ends was agreed upon to excavate and plan an area approximately 12 ft x 24 ft, during which time our efforts were well rewarded with finds of Medieval pottery, paved areas and part of a timber structure.

2

iI • , .,. ,.( . ' :.,:__J; j I ·-··-_j (( I 1

Fig. 10. The Pottery-35 Old Forge Road, Fenny Drayton 72

The Excavation The site had been much disturbed during the building of the original house with service trenches and landscaping. Also more recent work had removed some evidence, but apart from this the archreological features were well defined. In particular, on the north side was the curving arc of pebbles against the red marl and on the west side four post-pits. The larger stones are difficult to interpret especially since the water-pipe trench cut a substantial area of larger stone. Nevertheless the phase II plan gives some outlines of 'partitions' corresponding to 'partitions' in phase I formed by the stake-holes which were U in in diameter and 2 in to 4 in deep (Fig. 11). Although there is some similarity in outline these 'partitions' are offset in an east-west direction by 2 ft 6 in which is the same offset separating the post pits 1 & 4 and 2 & 3 and confirms two phases for the structure. The two pairs of post-pits grouped closely together had been partly truncated by the driveway levelling but their filling and pottery suggests the western pair are earlier post-pits and the next pair are post-pits with post­ holes 6 in in diameter having stone packing. Next to post-pit No. 1 a shallower, smaller outline suggests there may have been another thinner post. On the east baulk of the trench the water pipe cut another shallow irregular depression containing a considerable amount of sixteenth century pottery. Another possible post setting amidst the paving was shallower than others, contained sixteenth century pottery and may represent a later disturbance. A moderate amount of pottery was recovered but because of fragmentation very little is worth drawing. Two sherds from post-pit 2 are typical Nuneaton wares c. late thirteenth century to early fourteenth century. A sherd of Nuneaton ware of late fifteenth century date had a poorly-made roulette impression. Other wares include three sherds of Potters Marston, and a few sherds resembling locally-produced Fenny Drayton wares (see note) (Fig. 10). Other finds of interest were a whetstone (micaceous schist type), a spindle whorl (probably made from R.B. tile) and a fair amount of iron slag.

Conclusion The remains are one end of a timber structure of indeterminate size, which had some smaller 'rooms' attached. The earliest phase is recognised from the stake-holes, a later phase followed in stone footings. Dating from ceramic evidence suggests a late thirteenth century to fourteenth century date for the structures and the slag, some kind of local industrial activity.

Note on Fenny Drayton Pottery About 1960, when the house at 36 Old Forge Road was being built, the builder, Mr. Aucott, discovered much pottery in the foundations including a near-complete baluster jug (Fig. 10). From its appearance it is obviously a waster and is the only surviving evidence for kilns in the village. Purely on its style and form a fourteenth century date is suggested for the jug which was subsequently donated to Leicester Museum (Accession No. 413/1976). 0 5ft ~ 0 2m

o1~

J---,---- :,. stones \'~o . . (") left o "' -0. \ \· iB !I: insitu \ c;, ~F/0 :,. ~ oo '"I, ! ~ () tt1 0 . O""' i 0 O nS>,"" §>O t"" •., I ro 0 0 '(:5 ' 0 cc:, c;i . . 0 C)C\:) I -< ,. . :\ 0 ~ O } ..... , . a .. , D z ..,. . .' .. : t"" . . ~\~o' .....tt1 ...... ·. (") ., : .:.: tt1 •,. ' VJ ', ..., ~~ft· tTI post holes g 0 VJ"' !I: 00 ..... post pits "'tTI :,. z NM&KS ti PLAN OF EXCAVATION 1979 PHASE 1 Stakehole alignment PHASE 2 Stone alignment "'...,C: t"" :,. z ti

--.J Fig. 11 . 35 Old Forge Road, Fenny Drayton \;J 74

Acknowledgements The writer is indebted to the owners Mr. and Mrs. B. Muir for their co-operation throughout. Special thanks are due to helpers Nick Woolridge, Colin Lewis and to Nigel Melton for his assistance in drawing. The finds are all deposited at Leicester Museum.

The Pottery, Figure JO; a detailed description l. Baluster jug is of pinkish fabric, slightly sandy, with incised spiral groove on shoulder. Rim and handle are missing, the handle attachment to the body has three deep finger indentations. The upper 2/3rds has dark greenish glaze, an area unglazed due to burning in kiln flame path has a split, indicating that the pot is a waster (Accession No. 413/1976). 2. The cooking pot is of a grey, fairly sandy fabric with some larger angular grits, with outer surfaces turning pale orange. It is incised with combed wavy line on the.shoulder, its inside finish has 'cloth' smoothing-off marks. 3. This cooking pot again has a grey, fairly sandy fabric turning pale brownish on the outer surfaces; diameter of rim 5 in. 4. The jug sherd is in cream sandy fabric, with splashes of pale green glaze externally. It is decorated by applied pad impressed with a grid stamp. The pad is a pale orange fabric but has fired reddish on its outer surface. 5. This jug rim/handle is of pale cream to grey, fairly sandy fabric, with some pale green external glaze. It has a plain rod type handle. 6. The jug rim/handle is pale orange of a fairly sandy fabric. The plain strap handle has deep finger indentation below the rim. (Nos. 2-3-4 from roadside ditch of first investigation). (Nos. 5-6 from post pit 2). K. Scott Medieval Castles: Additional Information In view of the increased activity in the field of a variety of people, in particular, the Field Survey Unit of Leicestershire Museums, it seems appropriate to add some details to the paper published in the last volume of Transactions by Professor Cantor on Medieval Castles in Leicestershire. His paper was concerned with the historical evidence for castles and did not include the results of more recent fieldwork. This note is, therefore, an attempt to present the results of fieldwork carried out over a number of years which supplement Professor Cantor's article. CASTLE DONINGTON. An excavation was carried out on the castle moat in 1968-70 by D. Reaney and although the results of the excavation have never been published a brief report, including sections, has been deposited at the Jewry Wall Museum. The ditch which surrounded the motte is still partially visible. GROBY. The excavations conducted by B. K. Davidson in 1962 and referred to by Professor Cantor did in fact show that the motte was built around a pre-existing stone structure which was described as a stone tower. MOUNTSORREL. Earthworks belonging to the castle are still visible; part of the bailey ditch can be seen on the ground. Excavations were conducted by the Loughborough Archreological Society in 1952 by F. Ardron and the material from the site is important in that it pre-dates the castle's destruction in 1217. ARCHAEOLOGY IN LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND 75

RA VEN STONE. The earthwork noted by Renn at NGR 411131 is in fact a moated site and fieldwork has failed to reveal any evidence of a castle. GARTHORPE. There is indeed evidence to support Nicholas's statement that a castle stood next to the water mill. An impressive motte still stands 4-5 m high adjacent to a water course for the mill and is shown as a mound on the plan published in the Annual Report of the Medieval Village Research Group, 1976. GILMORTON. There is little doubt that the flat-topped mound and associated ditches are part of a castle. A moated site exists several hundred metres away in the same field. For a plan see the Medieval Village Research Group, Annual Report, 1978. SCRAPTOFT. The mount referred to in VCH and quoted by Cantor is clearly part of the landscaping of Scraptoft Hall. The mound was hollow containing a shell-lined 'grotto' and once had a 'summer house' standing on top. An eighteenth century map of Scraptoft shows this mound as a feature to which garden paths were laid out. NETHER BROUGHTON. Fieldwork suggests that the features described by Nichols belong to a small moated site and associated shrunken village earthworks centred on SK 697260. A. D . McWhirr and M. J. Wintt:r

Leicestershire Archreological Field Unit Annual Report: 1979 Despite the gathering financial gloom, 1979 has been a successful year for the Unit including the excavation of two important sites and the completion of the Unit's first major publication project, the full report on the excavation of the Austin Friars' site in Leicester. The excavation on the site of the Norfolk Street villa, Leicester, which began in February is particularly noteworthy as it virtually completes a project which was begun well over a century ago. The excavation, which was undertaken at relatively short notice and under considerable pressure of time, was not made easier by the severe weather conditions which prevailed during the early part of the year: on several days the only work which could be done on the site was the clearing of snow. Nevertheless thanks to the extension of time allowed ·by the County Engineers and Surveyors, the indefatigable determination of the two Field Officers, John Lucas and Clare Allin and the stalwart support of the permanent labour force and volunteers, the excavation was completed. For an interim report on this site see below, p. 77. This was not the case, however, with another site in the City, that of the old Bond Street Maternity Home, where excavation was scheduled to start in June. Totally unforeseen complications arose here in the final stages of negotiations which became more and more protracted until, excavation had to be postponed until next year. Otherwise the Unit would have faced the prospect of working on two sites at the same time which would have put a severe strain on the resources of both manpower and equipment. 76

The excavation of the barrow at Piperhole Farm, Eaton in North Leicestershire, scheduled for after the harvest, began more or less on time in early September. Although this site is not far from the barrow at Sproxton excavated in 1978, (T.L.A.H.S. LIII (1977-78), 75-7) it provided an extremely interesting comparison in construction techniques and development. The site lies on ironstone, notoriously intractable from an archreological point of view, and the various features were difficult to find and recognise; even the ditches proved extremely elusive. Nevertheless the excavation was completed slightly ahead of time and the excavation team, led by Patrick Clay and Deborah Sawday, are to be congratulated on their patience and persistence. For an interim report on this site see below, p. 67. The other major project to be completed this year was the excavation report on the Austin Friars' site, Leicester. The report includes sections on the small finds, leatherwork, floor tiles, and roof furniture all researched by the Unit staff, while outside specialists provided contributions on the human and animal bones, environmental evidence and the documentary background. The large section on the medieval pottery was the result of a combined effort involving both the Unit staff and an external specialist. The complete report was submitted to the C.B.A. in July 1979 and the final publication date should be late 1980. The report should be of both national and local significance for it presents not only the most complete excavation of a Friary in the country but it includes the first major groups of stratified medieval material to be published from Leicestershire. Although much of the work involved in the preparation of these reports is both tedious and time-consuming the process of assimilating all the different kinds of evidence can be a rewarding one. All those involved with the Friary report certainly found this to be the case and members may remember that, as a by-product of this process, the Senior and Assistant Field Archreologist were able to present an·account of the post-excavation work in a lecture to the Society in February 1979. This is an aspect of archreology with which few people, outside those immediately concerned, are familiar and the subject made a refreshing change for both speakers and audience. Meanwhile, work began during the year on preparing two further sites for publication. These sites, which were dug in 1971 and 1973, lay adjacent to each other on the south wing of the Roman forum with medieval tenements above. Post-excavation work has also proceeded during the year on the Bronze Age barrow site at Sproxton. Specialist reports on various aspects of this excavation have been received during 1979 and the final report should be completed in 1980. Colm O'Brien of the Trent Valley Archreological Research Committee, who directed the excavation of the Cossington barrows in 1976 on behalf of the Unit has also been preparing his report this year though publication must await the results from the Cl4 samples. However, with these two sites well on the way to publication and the 1979 excavations at Piperhole Farm we are at last beginning to amass a respectable body of information about the Leicestershire Bronze Age. Other research has also proceeded during the year. John Lucas has completed two short papers on the Town Walls of Leicester and a study of the ARCHAEOLOGY IN LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND 77 topography of Leicester, recording the results so far of his study of these two aspects of the history and development of the City. Following her research on the leather work from Austin Friars, Clare Allin has been studying the medieval leather industry in Leicester and the results of this work should be published as a monograph in 1980. Miss Allin's report on a seventeenth century shoe recovered during the demolition of a timber-framed house in Churchgate, Loughborough in 1975 was published in the Bulletin of the Loughborough & District Archceo/ogical Society Vol. 2., No. 4 (Winter 1979). Deborah Sawday has begun to study the typology of late medieval fine wares in Leicester while from the Roman period Patrick Clay has completed a paper on a collection of military leaden sealings from the excavation at Great Holme Street, (1975 and 1976) and St. Nicholas Circle (1973) for publication in Britannia, vol. xi (1980). In the Autumn of 1979 all members of the Unit, including the Survey Officer, co-operated in presenting a series of ten lectures for an evening class at Burbage, Hinckley, on Current Research in Leicestershire Archreology . The venture, which was new for several of the speakers, proved a successful one and it is hoped that it will be repeated elsewhere. In the Spring Mr. Pearce spoke to the Archreological Society on the deserted Medieval village at Theddingworth and followed this up, at popular request, by a conducted tour round the site itself later in the year. The popular appeal of archreology was also demonstrated when the Norfolk Street excavation was opened to the Public on Easter Sunday and Monday. Over 3,000 visitors flocked to the site, all but overwhelming the guides. The success of this event, following hard upon the equally startling response to the open days at Sproxton in 1978, was extremely gratifying to the Unit and it is intended that open days shall become a regular feature of the Unit's activities, although it must be remembered that not all our sites are as visually attractive or as comprehensible to the layman as the Sproxton barrow and the Norfolk Street villa. The Unit has also welcomed visits from a number of researchers during the year to inspect various classes of material recovered from excavation. The time spent by the staff in extracting this material and returning it to the stores is often considerable but nevertheless well worthwhile as the Unit receives in return the benefit of the specialist's comments and often a brief report. Types of material examined during the past year have included Roman bronzes and mortarium stamps, tessellated pavements and Roman wall plaster. In November the Unit entertained the Medieval Pottery Research Committee at the Humberstone Drive Annexe where the Committee spent a morning examining Medieval pottery from excavations in Leicester. Earlier in the year the Unit received a visit from members of the now extinct East Midlands Area Advisory Committee on Archreology. Miss Mellor and Mr. Pearce continued to attend the East Midlands Committee of Field Archreologists who, 'in addition to the normal run of meetings, held two seminars during the year, one at Nottingham on the Roman military occupation of the East Midlands Area and one at New Walk 78

Museum, Leicester, on the evidence for the Anglo-Saxon period in the area. Members of the Unit also attended various courses and conferences during the year on such diverse topics as Neolithic and Bronze Age Communities in Britain, Roman tile and environmental archreology. Mr. Pearce, with members of the Field Survey team continued to attend meetings of the C.B.A. East Midlands Aerial Photographic Committee and also made a number of flights with Jim Pickering during the crop-mark season photographing sites in the East Midlands. One of the problems with this work in the past has been the delay in processing the photographs, due to the increasing pressure of work on the Museum photographers from other sections. However with the re-organisation at Humberstone it was possible to convert one of the small rooms into a dark roomwhere the aerial photographs can be developed and printed immediately after a flight. In future the delay in identifying and plotting sites from aerial photographs should be avoided. By the end of 1978 it had become apparent that the storage space at Humberstone for excavated material was full to capacity. Thanks to the Museums Director the solution was provided by the acquiring of mobile classrooms which were converted into drawing office, working area and offices for Unit Staff, thus enabling the old work room to be used for storage. The initial move into the mobiles was accomplished in July but the settling-in process continued throughout the rest of the year, causing a certain amount .. of inconvenience and disruption in the progress of post-excavation work; though the fact that telephones had not been installed by the end of the year in the new offices was not a source of unalloyed discomfort! In addition to the Archreology staff, the museums conservation team has also been busy this year on behalf of the unit. Early in 1979 the Roman wooden coffin from the Great Holme Street site (T.L.A.H.S. LI [1975-6], 59) emerged from the conservation laboratory to go on display at the Jewry Wall Museum. However, the conservators' major task this year derives from the Norfolk Street excavations. Sections of two further tessellated pavements were lifted in May to join these previously recovered from the site in the nineteenth century but the most impressive achievement was the successful lifting of the painted wall-plaster from the Roman cellar. Without the services of the permanent conservation team, Theodore Sturge and Simon Aked, the recovery of such a large section of this plaster might well have proved impossible. The two conservators worked on the site, often in deplorable conditions, for three weeks to lift the wall-plaster in small sections. Back in the laboratory the sections were turned face upwards for cleaning and re-assembly. This work has begun but the process is painstaking and slow and it will be some time before the finished panel can be displayed. Visitors to the Jewry Wall Museum are already familiar with the wall-plaster from the Roman townhouseinBlueBoar Lane(T.L.A.H.S., XXXV [1959], 78-80) and some time in 1980 this should be joined by the plaster from Norfolk Street thus providing an interesting contract in styles of interior decoration. The unit was very sorry to lose the services of the Assistant Conservator, Simon Aked, at the end of June, when he left to take up a new job in Portsmouth. During the year the work of the Unit has also been helped by the ARCHAEOLOGY IN LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND 79 employment of six archreological assistants on the government's S.T.E.P. scheme. The S.T .E.P. assistants have provided the main labour force on both excavations and have also been seconded to the survey team to assist in Field work and to the conservation laboratory to work on the Norfolk Street wall plaster. In addition, with the extra manpower, the Unit has been able to complete much tedious but essential post-excavation work such as the preliminary sorting of the large quantities of roofing tile from the Norfolk Street site and the sieving of the samples from the ditches of the Sproxton and Eaton barrows to recover snail shells. The S.T.E.P. scheme was another new venture for the Unit during 1979 and it proved a rewarding experience for both sides. Many of the S.T.E.P. employees were newcomers to archreology but nevertheless quickly acquired some basic skills which made them useful members of the team. Finally we should like to record our thanks to the Field Officers of the unit for their commitment and loyalty during a year which, though successful, has not been without problems; to the Director of Museums and Mr. G. A. Chinnery for their interest and encouragement and to the other Sections within the Museum who have provided support for our activities in various ways. We are also grateful for the continuing interest of our Advisory Committee and in particular for the unfailing help and encouragement of the Chairman, Alan McWhirr and the D.O.E. Inspector, Glyn Coppack. J. E. Mellor and T. Pierce Reports of Fieldwork 1979 BAGWORTH (SK 480083) Fieldwork by M. Ball revealed a scatter of early Roman pottery near the west end of Thornton Reservoir. The site was subsequently recorded from the air by R. F . Hartley as a rectangular parch mark.

BARDON (SK 472131) The circular ditched enclosure east of Kellam's Farm was visited by P. Liddle and R. F. Hartley. It is conventionally regarded as medieval, but it is of the same type as Belton 'Castle' and may be Iron Age in date.

BARKBY THORPE (SK 632088) Brian Cartwright and the Hamilton archreological group have discovered a new Roman occupation site south of the village. A large scatter of pottery was noted, but no stone or tile.

BITTESBY (SP 498858) The railway embankment through the deserted village site was flattened and the stream re-aligned. The only feature noted was a cobbled surface between house platforms. The opportunity was also taken to fieldwalk the area under plough and a scatter of medieval pottery collected. 80

CROXTON KERRIAL (SK 850299) A late Roman pottery scatter 'was located near Blackwell Lodge. Previous finds include fourth century Roman coins.

FOSTON (SP 607950) The earthworks of this extensive deserted village were surveyed prior to levelling and draining.

FREEBY (SK 793188) The complex of earthworks adjacent to Wyfordby church has been surveyed. The moat is small and well defined, adjacent earthworks include fishponds and enclosures.

FRISBY (SK 717145) A new moated site on the very edge of the parish has been located by the Melton Archa:ological Fieldwork Group. The shape of the principle enclosure is rectangular and measures 48·79 m by 33·5 m. The moat is still water filled, fed by a spring.

GADDESBY (SK 687123) The deserted village of Newbold Folville was located and part of the site fieldwalked, producing scatters of pottery ranging from Saxo-Norman to Late Medieval.

HOUGHTON (SK 671033) A scatter of grey-ware, colour-coated ware and other Roman pottery has been located on a small spur south-west of the village by the Houghton Fieldwork Group.

HOUGHTON (SK 676027) A second scatter of Roman pottery was found by the Houghton Fieldwork Group on a spur south of the village across a small valley from the fir,st site.

LEICESTER (SK 626027) The manorial complex around St. Denys' church, Evington was surveyed. It was noted that some features had been obliterated by landscaping on the golf-course, but a fine moat, a good set of fish ponds and a mill-dam were well preserved.

LEICESTER (SK 629073) A good scatter of Roman pottery including grey-ware, colour-coated ware, mortaria, samian ware and shelly wares was plotted by Brian Cartwright and the Hamilton Archa:ological Fieldwork Group after intial discoveries by the farmer, Alan Hill.

NEWBOLD VERDON (SK 441037) The moated site adjacent to the Hall has been surveyed. ARCHAEOLOGY IN LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND 81

NEWTOWN LINFORD (SK 574108) The medieval farmstead site reported in T.L.A.H.S., XXVIII (1952), 42-3 was fieldwalked. The earthworks are now unrecognisable but a scatter of medieval and early post-medieval pottery associated with stone was located in the expected position. A few sherds of Roman pottery were also found about 100 yards to the east.

OSBASTON (SK 426038) A scatter of Roman pottery, including mortaria, greyware, samian and black burnished ware, was located SOO metres south of the village by the Newbold Verdon and district archa!ological group. Associated with the pottery were tesserae, box-tiles and tegulae, indicating an important building.

SCALFORD (SK 773248) Skeletons were found in bulldozing the drive of a cottage in Main Street, Wycomb in 1976 and later iri garden-digging operations. The building of a barrow-ramp gave an ideal opportunity for a very small-scale rescue operation to date the burials. These proved to be medieval and the wall of an associated stone building was also encountered that may be interpreted as the village's chapel mentioned in documentary sources in the thirteenth and early fourteenth century. Late Roman and hand-made Saxon pottery was found but not in meaningful context. A. W. Adams supervised the rescue excavation.

SCALFORD (SK 782256) A Roman site was found by Melton fieldwork group.

SPROXTON (SK 821262) The earthworks of the relatively well-preserved deserted village of Bescaby have been surveyed. The south-west corner of the site was ploughed out and a scatter of Saxo-Norman, early and late medieval pottery was collected. Intermixed with this was a dense scatter of second- to fourth-century Roman pottery.

STOCKERSTON (SP 844958) The deserted village of Holyoak was visited by the Survey Team. Much of the site was masked by modern farm buildings and part had not been ploughed (including the area excavated by Gwen Brown in 1967), but on the west of the farm a medieval pottery scatter was located. This included Stamford-type wares, Lyveden ware and other early medieval pottery types.

THURLASTON (SP 490984) Miss E. J. Linford has fieldwalked the site of the deserted village of N ormanton Turville. There were the remains of ploughed-down earthworks and a dense scatter of medieval pottery, stone, slate and ridge.tiles. P. Liddle